Small Black is an indie band from Brooklyn, New York. Their sound is commonly described as belonging to the chillwave genre, though the band's members don't label themselves as such. They have released an album under Jagjaguwar. "Breathless" ups the tempo, over synth stabs, with lyrics that tackle apathy and uncertainty with catchy grace: "I'm standing in tomorrow's way/ future's fine/least it seems okay." It paints a concise portrait of a generation struggling with unlimited freedom and malaise.The band builds on a rich history of synth pop by making a thoroughly modern album, on both the front and back end. One that seeks out cohesion, connection and calm in a world that won't sit still. Limits of Desire doesn't attempt to provide any solutions, but coming to terms with not finding the answers feels infinitely more fruitful. Check out "Breathless" here on Lyrics On My Wall.
Small Black-Breathless
I'm standing in tomorrow's way
Future's fine
Least it seems okay
It doesn't mean a miracle
Should be turned away
On that day
Saw both my life and death
In two lines
Felt the kick of fate
There I was invisible
Just out of phase
There's no sun, no storm
No time, nowhere
Breathless
For a moment I was
Nowhere
Breathless
There's no sun, no storm
Nowhere
Breathless
For a moment I was
Breathless
Between the void and the parade
Were in due time
And they feel the same
Even if I wanted to
Well I can't explain
Just how could I be standing here
Across divides
Unhurt, unfazed
It didn't feel impossible
But it looked that way
There's no sun, no storm
No time, nowhere
Breathless
For a moment I was
Nowhere
Breathless
There's no sun, no storm
Nowhere
Breathless
For a moment I was
Breathless
For a moment I was fine
For a moment I was fine
The year of 1990 brought in life a generation full of talents. Whoever believes that we are only made for living in our couch hasn't listened to Tom Odell, Hozier, Matt Corby and James Bay. James grew up in Hitchin, Hertfordshire and after listening to Eric's Clapton "Layla", he took his guitar, clicked on YouTube and started to practice. Then he attented Brighton Institute of Modern Music and the outcome is brilliant. Wonderful falsettos and earth edgy vocals like the ones of Mumford and Sons. James Bay has been named Critics Choice 2015 by the Brit Awards panel, who have previously earmarked Adele, Jessie J and Sam Smith early in their careers. He Hold Back the River is a song that deals with break ups and tears. Check it out here on Lyrics On My Wall.
James Bay-Hold Back The River
Tried to keep you close to me,
But life got in between
Tried to square not being there
But think that I should have been
Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes
Hold back the river, so I
Can stop for a minute and see where you hide
Hold back the river, hold back
Once upon a different life
We rode our bikes into the sky
But now we call against the tide
Those distant days are flashing by
Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes
Hold back the river, so I
Can stop for a minute and be by your side
Hold back the river, hold back
Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes
Hold back the river, so I
Can stop for a minute and see where you hide
Hold back the river, hold back
Hold oho, oho, oho, oho
Oho, oho, oho, oho
Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander
Let us hold each other
Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander
Let us hold each other
Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes
Hold back the river, so I
Can stop for a minute and be by your side
Hold back the river, hold back
Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes
Hold back the river, so I
Can stop for a minute and be by your side
Hold back the river, hold
Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander
Let us hold each other
Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander
Let us hold each other
It happens sometimes to find some artists that are AMAZING but it is impossible to find more details about them. Here are Tom Misch and Carmody with their track "So Close". I can only say that they create together dreamy electro stuff. They release together their EP "Out To Sea" and you can preorder it here: smarturl.it/OutToSea. Tom Misch is a very promising producer and if you listen to all the songs you will be sure about it!
Check out their track So Close here on Lyrics On My Wall.
Tom Misch & Carmody-So Close
I’ll let you real near to my heart
So close that you can feel beats
As they move apart
I’ll let you real near to my mind
So close that all our empty thoughts
Are intertwined
Sitting by the edge of the world I know it’s true
That we wrote a language just for me and you
Stayed in that place and spent all of our day
The flashes of colour that lit right through the grey
Stay here and we’ll align
Your shadow passes into mine
Stay here and we’ll align
Your shadow passes into mine
I’ll let you real near to my heat
So close that all the broken things
Feel so concrete
I’ll let you real near to my soul
So close that you have a love
You can’t control
Sitting by the edge of the world I know it’s true
That we wrote a language just for me and you
Stayed in that place and spent all of our day
The flashes of colour that lit right through the grey
Stay here and we’ll align
Your shadow passes into mine
Stay here and we’ll align
Your shadow passes into mine
Stay here and we’ll align
Your shadow passes into mine
Stay here and we’ll align
Your shadow passes into mine
When this day comes, this is the first song I think about right away. One of my favorite songs by U2. It is on their 1983 album War. The lyric had its origins in a love song from Bono to his wife, but was subsequently reshaped and inspired by the Polish Solidarity movement. "New Year's Day" is U2's fifth most frequently performed live song, with The Edge switching back and forth between piano and guitar during the song. It has been a standard on every U2 tour since its debut on 1 December 1982 at the first show of the War Tour's Pre-Tour. During the 1980s, The Edge used a Fender Stratocaster to perform this song, along with a keyboard.During the Vertigo Tour at Silesian Stadium in Poland a quite remarkable example of fan action occurred. During New Year's Day, the lower sections of the crowd waved red coloured items while other sections waved white, creating the Polish flag and stunning the band. This was repeated during the U2 360° Tour at the same venue.
U2-New Year's Day
All is quiet on new year's day.
A world in white gets underway.
I want to be with you, be with you night and day.
Nothing changes on new year's day.
On new year's day.
I... will be with you again.
I... will be with you again.
Under a blood-red sky
A crowd has gathered in black and white
Arms entwined, the chosen few
The newspaper says, says
Say it's true, it's true...
And we can break through
Though torn in two
We can be one.
I... I will begin again
I... I will begin again.
Oh, oh. oh, oh. oh, oh.
Oh, maybe the time is right.
Oh, maybe tonight.
I will be with you again.
I will be with you again.
And so we are told this is the golden age
And gold is the reason for the wars we wage
Though I want to be with you
Be with you night and day
Nothing changes
On new year's day
On new year's day
On new year's day
Emily, Jessica and Camilia form together The Staves. The trio from Watford, UK, that happened to meet in Manchester as the support act for Angus & Julia Stone. They started to join open mic nights at their local, and this is where their name got stuck...when it was written on the chalkboard. Their ability to harmonize was going to be their calling card since then. They attracted notice in the USA, while they went on tour with The Civil Wars. Their second album was produced by the extremely talented Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver). When you listen to them performing live only with their guitars, you might find them a little bit flat but if you invest your time into Staves, you will be surprised by their dynamics in the studio recordings! Check out the Blood I Bled on Lyrics On My Wall.
The Staves-Blood I Bled
Calm the quickening feet that fall
Calm the gathering rain
Suffering as I suffer you
You when you speak of pain
If I was, if I am, if I did, if I have
Calm the quickening feet that fall
Hide behind you
Calm the gathering rain
Suffering as I suffer you
Will be tied in the river
You when you speak of pain
If I was, if I am, if I did, if I have
Raise your banners and ride to war
Just unrighteous
Scouring around your name
Fortune finders
See the damage of challenge raised
Just unrighteous
Oh, sudden leave your blame
Fortune finders
Pick up my roots and now leaves are dead
They tumbled down in bruise of all the BLOOD I BLED
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
If I want, if I am, if ever did, if I ever had
Pick up my roots and now leaves are dead
They tumbled down in bruise of all the BLOOD I BLED
Old Man Canyon is basically the name of the Jett's Pace new project. Jett Pace was born and raised in Vancouver, even though he started with rap songs, eventually after his musical education in Europe, he turned to indie-folk and alternative path. In 2012, his project Old Man Canyon took place and it is an EP of 5 wonderful tracks. The second track: Phantoms & Friends is full of retro sound and nostalgia, such as its music video. You can listen to it and watch the music video here on Lyrics On My Wall.
P.S. This song might remind you of Wicked Games or something by Iron and Wine. ;)
Old Man Canyon-Phantoms & Friends
When I awoke I felt the call to go
Those places that I never thought I'd go
I spent the time to see which way to walk
But now that road just crumbles as I talk
Don't let the ones that want to steal your dreams
They'll steal your dreams away
Just laugh and let it go
So you've tried to pass along your doubt
Oh you need somebody's ears to hear you shout
All your wasted and days and twisted ways are up
So now its time to see the cards your dealt
Don't let the ones that want to steal your dreams
They'll steal your dreams away
Just laugh and let it go
I know all your names
Pointing different ways
Let me out
I came up I saw you there
Now I know
Now I know
I rose up my fear was gone
Now I know
Now I know
Don't let the ones that want to steal your dreams
They'll steal your dreams away
Just laugh and let it go
We had to fly to Manchester, in order to watch Angus and Julia Stone performing live on the stage of The Albert Hall. This was a dream that I dreamt four years ago and finally it got real. Mick Flaherty and me were wandering around the Christmas Market of Manchester until the doors of Albert Hall were opened for the show. It used to be a Wesleyan chapel in Manchester City Centre closed and hidden for over 40 years. Resurrected by Trof, the people behind Gorilla and The Deaf Institute, as an unrivalled events venue, restaurant and bar. The grand and ornate chapel has been restored into a stunning purpose built music hall and is set to become one of the most atmospheric music and events venues in the UK. We ran to the first raw of the standing area. We had to wait for the support act to begin.
The Staves are an English acoustic folk rock trio of sisters from Watford, Hertfordshire, England. Their set was acoustic and based on their harmonies. They played for 40 minutes, and they won us all with their humour and sarcasm. I had no clue about The Staves, and to be honest that acoustic set wasn't exciting...I came back to Greece, though and I had to search a little bit about them. What I found, made me change my mind. You will have the chance to know more about The Staves in the following posts.
After The Staves, we had to wait for the soundcheck of Angus and Julia Stone set. People were on and off stage all the time, making sure that we are going to experience the best sound quality. Unfortunately that waiting took very very long. The people, who were standing like us, had bad time for an hour. Fortunately the music that was playing on the background had cuban sense (which I love). Then, out of the blue the lights went off and the siblings with their band got on stage! The opening track, couldn't be other than the opening track of their album "A Heartbreak".
It was an amazing start and it put us in the atmosphere of the whole set right away. Julia wore a mini dress, kinda cute and Angus shy and high as always with his hat on. Their set was full of their new and old songs, so it was easy to see the evolution of their music, musically and lyrically. Their new material is more mature and raw, like reality. As always, we had the chance to see Julia playing her trumpet in "Private Lawns" and of course the cover they did live was "You're The One", where they let the audience participate in the chorus! :)
Right there, out of nowhere, we heard a guy shouting "play the one that I like" Julia asked "What's that?" and the guy said "Bloodbuzz Ohio". After a few songs, they played "Bloodbuzz Ohio" and then everyone from the crowd asked for more! I have to admit, though, that the guy who asked "Bloodbuzz Ohio" sort of dissapointed me for two reasons: 1) Bloodbuzz Ohio is not one of Angus' and Julia's Stone originals but The National and 2) It was only played as a cover, but in Julia's solo album.
Anywaysss, the set was about to end and the closure was made with "Heart Beats Slow". Even though, they all got off stage, they left us scream for more. After a minute they came back for a couple of songs... They chose to play, two of my favourites, their old time classics "And The Boys" and "Santa Monica Dream". This is exactly how we met them! Easy melodies but deep meanings!
Bottom line: If you haven't listened to The Staves before, I hope their acoustic set is not the first thing you see...you need to search more. If you like indie-rock-folk music, Angus and Julia Stone is the set you are looking for. Please, go!
Special thanks to Mick Flaherty for taking all the photos and for being there all the time!
More Details here:
The Albert Hall: https://www.facebook.com/alberthallmanchester The Staves: https://www.facebook.com/TheStavesAngus and Julia Stone: https://www.facebook.com/AngusAndJuliaLyrics On My Wall: https://www.facebook.com/lyricsonmywallMick Flaherty: https://www.facebook.com/mick.flaherty.12?fref=ts
